Tamper-evident closure

ABSTRACT

A tamper-evident closure system is provided for a container. The system has a body for extending from the container at the container opening. The body defines a dispensing orifice and an attachment surface. The system includes a lid for being moved between a closed position and an open position. An anchor member is provided for being attached to the body attachment surface when the lid is first closed on the body. At least one frangible web initially connects the anchor member with the lid so that the frangible web breaks when the lid is initially lifted from the closed position.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX

Not applicable.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a tamper-evident closure system for acontainer. The invention is particularly suitable for incorporation in adispensing closure for use with a squeezable container.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND TECHNICAL PROBLEMS POSED BY THE PRIORART

There are a variety of types of conventional closures which functiongenerally satisfactorily in applications for which they are designed.One type of prior art closure includes a body or base for being attachedto the top of a container. The body defines a dispensing orifice. Thesystem further includes a lid which is mounted on the base or body andwhich can be lifted up to open the dispensing orifice. See, for example,U.S. Pat. No. 6,644,487.

The U.S. Pat. No. 6,644,487 discloses a design which also includestamper-evident frangible webs for connecting the lid to the body and forinitially preventing the lid from being lifted away from the body unlessand until a sufficient lifting force is applied to the lid to break thewebs, and such breakage serves as a tamper-evident feature. While such adesign offers significant advantages, it would be desirable to provide afurther improved tamper-evident closure system.

In particular, it would be desirable to provide an improved design inwhich the tamper-evident feature can be optionally more stronglyintegrated into the closure system and/or can be optionally made evenmore noticeable to the user (before the tamper-evident feature is brokenprior to the lid being initially opened, as well as after thetamper-evident feature has been broken and the lid is re-closed).

It would also be advantageous if such an improved tamper-evident closuresystem could also be adapted for use with a one-piece, unitary closuresystem as well as with a two-piece, or other multiple-piece, closuresystem.

It would also be beneficial if such an improved tamper-evident closuresystem could optionally readily accommodate the connection of the lid tothe body with a hinge structure, either a hinge structure that isunitary with both the lid and body, or a two-piece hinge structure thatis part of a separately formed lid and separately formed body which canbe assembled together.

It would also be advantageous if such an improved tamper-evident closuresystem could optionally incorporate the tamper-evident feature in a waywhich does not hinder access to, or obstruct, the front of the lid wherea thumb lift tab might be employed.

It would also be desirable to provide a tamper-evident closure systemwhich would not require the use of a freshness seal or liner across theclosure or container opening, and that would have a minimum number ofcomponents so as to facilitate manufacture and assembly.

It would also be advantageous to provide a closure system with thecapability for accommodating optional tamper-evident features betweenthe container and closure system body that can readily indicate to aconsumer that the closure system has been initially removed from thecontainer.

It would also be beneficial if a closure system could readilyaccommodate its manufacture from at least a thermoplastic material, orother material.

It would also be advantageous if such an improved closure system couldaccommodate bottles, containers, or packages which have a variety ofshapes and which are constructed from a variety of materials.

Further, it would be desirable if such an improved system couldaccommodate efficient, high-quality, high-speed, large volumemanufacturing techniques with a reduced product reject rate to produceproducts having consistent operating characteristics unit-to-unit withhigh reliability.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention can be incorporated into a closure system that mayinclude one or more of the above-discussed, desired features.

The present invention provides an improved tamper-evident closure systemfor a container that has an opening to the container interior. Thesystem can be readily operated by the user to initially open the system.

If desired, the improved system can accommodate a tamper-evident featurethat is optionally more strongly integrated into the closure and/or isoptionally more readily visible so that the condition or status of thefeature (i.e., unbroken or broken) can be easily observed.

The initial opening operation of the inventive, tamper-evident closuresystem lid does not produce a separate, loose piece which must bediscarded. The tamper-evident closure system can be employed with aone-piece or multi-piece closure body and lid design. Further, thetamper-evident closure system readily accommodates the employment of athumb lift tab on the lid and also readily accommodates a unitary, ormulti-piece, hinge structure between the lid and the body. The systemalso accommodates the use of other, optional, tamper-evident featuresbetween the closure body and the container.

According to a first aspect of a presently preferred embodiment of theinvention, the tamper-evident feature is more strongly integrated intothe closure system by welding. The system includes a body that is eithera separate structure for attaching to, and extending from, the containerat the container opening or is a unitary extension of the container atthe opening.

The body has

-   -   (1) at least one orifice for communicating with the container        opening, and    -   (2) a thermoplastic attachment surface.

A lid is adapted to be disposed on the body for accommodating lifting ofthe lid relative to the at least one orifice between (1) a closedposition over the at least one orifice, and (2) an open position awayfrom the at least one orifice.

An anchor member is provided with a thermoplastic attaching portion forbeing welded to the body attachment surface when the lid is first in theclosed position. In the preferred embodiment, ultrasonic welding isemployed.

At least one frangible web extends between the lid and the anchor memberfor initially connecting the anchor member with the lid, and the web issubsequently broken when the lid is first lifted from the closedposition.

According to a second aspect of the invention, a more visibletamper-evident feature in a closure system is provided for a containerthat has an opening to the container interior. This second aspect of theinvention may be provided in the closure system without theabove-described first aspect of the invention, or vice versa. Theclosure system includes a body that is either a separate structure forattaching to, and extending from, the container at the opening or is aunitary extension of the container at the opening. The body has at leastone orifice for communicating with the container opening.

A lid is adapted to be disposed in the body for accommodating lifting ofthe lid relative to the at least one orifice between (1) a closedposition over the at least one orifice, and (2) an open position awayfrom the at least one orifice. The lid has a lower edge.

An anchor member is non-removably fixed to the body when the lid isfirst in the closed position to define a vertical gap between the anchormember and the lid lower edge.

At least one frangible web extends across the gap between the lid loweredge and the anchor member for initially connecting the anchor memberwith the lid for subsequently being broken when the lid is first liftedfrom the closed position. The frangible web is highly visible in thegap.

In a most preferred form of the invention, both the above-describedfirst aspect of the invention and the above-described second aspect ofthe invention are included together in the closure system.

According to yet another aspect of the invention, a method is providedfor making a tamper-evident closure system for a container that has anopening to the container interior. The method comprises the steps of:

(A) molding from thermoplastic material a body that

-   -   (1) is either a separate structure for attaching to, and        extending from, the container at the opening or is a unitary        extension of the container at the opening,    -   (2) has at least one orifice for communicating with the        container opening, and    -   (3) has a thermoplastic attachment surface;

(B) molding from thermoplastic material a top structure comprising (1) alid, (2) an anchor member that has an attaching portion, and (3) atleast one frangible web that extends between, and is unitary with, thelid and the anchor member wherein the lid is adapted to be disposed onthe body for accommodating lifting of the lid relative to the at leastone orifice between (i) a closed position over the at least one orifice,and (ii) an open position away from the at least one orifice;

(C) mounting the top structure on the body with the lid disposed on thebody in the closed position and with the anchor member attaching portionlocated adjacent the body attachment surface; and

(D) welding the anchor member attaching portion to the body attachmentsurface when the lid is first in the closed position to initiallyconnect the anchor member with the lid so that the at least onefrangible web can be subsequently broken when the lid is first liftedfrom the closed position.

Numerous other advantages and features of the present invention willbecome readily apparent from the following detailed description of theinvention, from the claims, and from the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings that form part of the specification, and inwhich like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout thesame,

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary tamper-evident closuresystem in the form of a separate dispensing closure according to apreferred embodiment of the invention, and the closure is shown in aclosed configuration, before installation on a container, and from avantage point generally above, or from the top of, the closure;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, but FIG. 2 shows the lid in the openposition with the tamper-evident feature having been broken;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken generallyalong the plane 3-3 in FIG. 1, but FIG. 3 further shows the closureinstalled on the neck of a container and shows part of the lowertamper-evident band of the closure turned upwardly to engage a flange onthe container neck;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view taken generally along theplane 4-4 in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 shows the closure prior to the closurebeing installed on the neck of the container, and FIG. 4 further showsthe lower tamper-evident band in the as-molded, downwardly dependingconfiguration prior to being turned up under the flange on the containerneck;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 3, but FIG.5 shows the closure (1) prior to the lid anchor member being welded tothe closure body, and (2) prior to the closure being installed on theneck of a container, and FIG. 5 further shows the lower tamper-evidentband in the as-molded, downwardly depending configuration prior to beingturned up under the flange on the container neck;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the closure body prior to the lid beinginitially mounted on the body by the manufacturer and prior to thecompleted closure being installed on the container;

FIG. 7 is a enlarged, cross-sectional view taken generally along theplane 7-7 in FIG. 6, and FIG. 7 shows the closure body prior to beinginstalled on the neck of the container, and FIG. 7 further shows thelower tamper-evident band in the as-molded, downwardly dependingconfiguration prior to being turned up under the flange on the containerneck;

FIG. 8 is a front perspective view of the closure lid prior to the lidbeing mounted on the closure body by the manufacturer;

FIG. 9 is a rear perspective view of the lid prior to the lid beingmounted on the closure body by the manufacturer;

FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the closure lid prior to the lid beingmounted on the closure body by the manufacturer;

FIG. 11 is a bottom view of the lid prior to the lid being mounted onthe closure body by the manufacturer;

FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along the plane 12-12in FIG. 10;

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along the plane 13-13in FIG. 10;

FIG. 14 is a front elevation view of the lid taken generally along theplane 14-14 in FIG. 10;

FIG. 15 is a greatly enlarged view of the region within the ovaldesignated as FIG. 15 in FIG. 12;

FIG. 16 is a greatly enlarged cross-sectional view of the area withinthe circle designated FIG. 16 in FIG. 13; and

FIG. 17 is a view similar to FIG. 15, but FIG. 17 shows the structureafter a tamper-evident feature has been broken.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many differentforms, this specification and the accompanying drawings disclose onlysome specific forms as examples of the invention. The invention is notintended to be limited to the embodiments so described, however. Thescope of the invention is pointed out in the appended claims.

For ease of description, most of the figures illustrating the inventionshow a closure system in the typical orientation that it would have atthe top of a container when the container is stored upright on its base,and terms such as upper, lower, horizontal, etc., are used withreference to this position. It will be understood, however, that theclosure system of this invention may be manufactured, stored,transported, used, and sold in an orientation other than the positiondescribed.

The closure system of this invention is suitable for use with a varietyof conventional or special containers having various designs, thedetails of which, although not illustrated or described, would beapparent to those having skill in the art and an understanding of suchcontainers. The container, per se, described herein forms no part of,and therefore is not intended to limit, the present invention. It willalso be understood by those of ordinary skill that novel and non-obviousinventive aspects are embodied in the described exemplary closuresystems alone.

A presently preferred embodiment of a tamper-evident closure system ofthe present invention is illustrated in FIG. 17 and is designatedgenerally therein by reference number 20 in FIG. 1. In the preferredembodiment illustrated, the closure system 20 is provided in the form ofa separate closure 20 which is adapted to be mounted or installed on acontainer 22 (FIG. 3) that would typically contain a fluent material.The container 22 includes body 24 and a neck 26 as shown in FIG. 3. Theneck 26 defines an opening 28 to the container interior. The containerneck 26, in the preferred embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3, has anexternal, male thread 29 for engaging the closure 20.

The body 24 of the container 22 may have any suitable configuration, andthe upwardly projecting neck 26 may have a different cross-sectionalsize and/or shape than the container body 24. (Alternatively, thecontainer 22 need not have a neck 26, per se. Instead, the container 22may consist of just a body with an opening.) The container 22 may have arigid wall or walls, or may have a somewhat flexible wall or walls.

Although the container, per se, does not necessarily form a part of thebroadest aspects of the present invention, per se, it will beappreciated that at least a body portion of the system 20 of the presentinvention optionally may be provided as a unitary portion, or extension,of the top of the container. However, in the preferred embodimentillustrated, the system 20 is a separate unit (e.g., a closure) whichcan be either one-piece or multiple pieces, and which is adapted to beremovably or non-removably installed on a previously manufacturedcontainer 22 that has an opening 28 to the container interior.Hereinafter, the closure system 20 will be more simply referred to asthe closure 20.

The closure 20 is adapted to be used with a container 22 having anopening 28 to provide access to the container interior and to a productcontained therein. The closure 20 can be used with many materials,including, but not limited to, relatively low or high viscosity liquids,creams, gels, suspensions, mixtures, lotions, pastes, particulates,granular materials, small pieces or items, etc. as constituting a foodproduct, a beverage product, a personal care product, an industrial orhousehold cleaning product, or other compositions of matter (e.g.,compositions for use in activities involving manufacturing, commercialor household maintenance, construction, agriculture, etc.).

The container 22 with which the closure 20 may be used would typicallybe a squeezable container having a flexible wall or walls which can begrasped by the user and squeezed or compressed to increase the internalpressure within the container so as to force the product out of thecontainer and through the opened closure. Such a flexible container walltypically has sufficient, inherent resiliency so that when the squeezingforces are removed, the container wall returns to its normal, unstressedshape. Such a squeezable wall container is preferred in manyapplications but may not be necessary or preferred in otherapplications. For example, in some applications it may be desirable toemploy a generally rigid container, and to pressurize the containerinterior at selected times with a piston or other pressurizing system.Also, the interior of the container need not be pressurized at all.Instead, if the closure is large enough, the product could be accessedby reaching through the open closure with a hand, spoon or straw, or thepackage could be inverted to let the product discharge through theopened closure solely under the influence of gravity.

It is presently contemplated that many applications employing theclosure 20 will conveniently be realized by molding some or all of thecomponents of the closure 20 from suitable thermoplastic material ormaterials. In the preferred embodiment illustrated, the components ofthe closure could each be molded from a suitable thermoplastic material,such as, but not limited to, polypropylene. The closure components maybe separately molded from the same material or from different materials.The materials may have the same or different colors and textures.

As can be seen in FIG. 5, the closure system or closure 20 includes,inter alia, two basic components, (1) a base or body 30, and (2) a lid40 which is adapted to be carried on the body 30. The closure 20 alsoincludes tamper-evident features described in detail hereinafter.

The lid 40 is movable between a closed position over the body as shownin FIG. 1 and an open position as shown in FIG. 2. The lid 40 may be aseparate component which is completely removable from the closure body30, or the lid 40 may be tethered to the body 30 with a strap, or thelid 40 may be hinged to the body 30 as shown in FIG. 2 so as toaccommodate pivoting movement from the closed position to the openposition.

As can be seen in FIG. 7, the closure body 30 includes a spout 42defining a dispensing orifice 44 which opens to the hollow interior ofthe closure body 30 and which therefore communicates with the opening 28in the container neck 26 when the closure 20 is mounted on the container22 as shown in FIG. 4. The interior of the spout 42 contains anapertured baffle structure 45 (FIGS. 3-7) for controlling the flow ofthe discharging fluid product. The baffle structure 45 may be omittedaltogether, or other spout interior structures may be included (e.g., adischarge valve).

As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, at the bottom of the spout 42, the closurebody 30 has a peripheral upper deck 46. The peripheral upper deck 46 isdefined at its outer edge by a generally vertical wall 48 as can be seenin FIGS. 6 and 7. Surrounding the lower edge of the vertical wall 48 isan intermediate deck 50. The intermediate deck 50 is defined at itsouter edge by a generally vertical wall 52. At the bottom edge of thevertical wall 52 is a lower deck 54. The lower deck 54 defines anattachment surface and functions to accommodate a thermoplastic weldattachment of a tamper-evident feature on the lid 40 as described indetail hereinafter.

As can be seen in FIGS. 6 and 7, the rear of the closure body 30includes a bearing member comprising two, spaced-apart walls 80 whichtogether define between them an upwardly open channel 82. As shown inFIG. 7, the upper, distal end portion of each wall 80 extends toward theother wall 80 over the channel 82 to define a reduced width passage 84to the channel 82. The bottom of the channel 82 includes a narrowerrecess or groove 86.

As can be seen in FIGS. 6 and 7, the closure body 30 has an annularskirt 90 extending downwardly form the upper portion of the closure body30. The interior surface of the skirt 90 defines a female thread 92. Asillustrated in FIG. 5, the closure body skirt thread 92 is adapted tothreadingly engage the exterior, male thread 29 on the container neck26.

Alternatively, the closure skirt 90 could be provided with some othercontainer connecting means, such as a snap-fit bead or groove (notillustrated) in place of the thread 92 for engaging a container neckgroove or bead (not illustrated), respectively. The closure body 30could also be permanently attached to the container 22 by means ofinduction melting, ultrasonic melting, gluing, or the like, depending onmaterials used for the closure body 30 and container 22. The closurebody 30 could also be formed as a unitary part, or extension, of thecontainer 22.

The closure body skirt 90 may have any suitable configuration foraccommodating an upwardly projecting neck 26 or other portion of thecontainer 22 received within the particular configuration of the closurebody 30, and the main part of the container 22 may have a differentcross-sectional shape than the container neck 26 and closure body 30.

An optional seal or liner (not illustrated) may be sealed across the topof the container neck 26 or, alternatively, may be sealed across aninterior region or underside of the upper portion of the closure body30. However, if the function of a tamper-evident seal or freshness sealas provided by such a liner is not needed or desired in a particularapplication, then the liner may, of course, be omitted.

Also, if desired, the closure body 30 may be provided with an interior,annular seal 96 (FIGS. 6 and 7) extending downwardly from the undersideof the upper portion of the closure body 30. Such a seal 96 could be“plug” profile seal, as illustrated, or a “crab's claw” seal, a flatseal, a V seal, or some other such seal, depending upon the particularapplication and depending upon whether or not a liner is employed.

In the preferred form of the invention illustrated, the closure bodyskirt 90 has a generally annular configuration. However, the closurebody skirt 90 may have other configurations. For example, the closurebody skirt 90 might have a prism or polygon configuration adapted to bemounted to the top of a container neck having a polygon configuration.Such prism or polygon configurations would not accommodate the use of athreaded attachment, but other means of attachment could be provided,such as a snap-fit bead and groove arrangement, or the like. However, ifthe closure body included a double wall defining a polygon outer skirtand a cylindrical inner attachment wall, then the cylindrical innerattachment wall could be provided with a thread for engagement with athreaded container.

In one preferred form of the invention as shown in FIG. 5, the closurebody 30 incorporates a conventional or special tamper-evident ring 100along the bottom edge of the closure body skirt 90 for cooperation witha container 22 that has a retention flange 104 (FIG. 3) below thecontainer neck thread 26. As shown in FIG. 5, the tamper-evident ring100 is initially molded as a downwardly extending, unitary flange on thebottom of the closure body skirt 90. Prior to the installation of theclosure body 30 on a container, such as on the container 22 illustratedin FIG. 3, the lower half of the tamper-evident ring 100 is deformed orbent radially inwardly and upwardly. Then, the closure body 30 islowered onto the container neck 26 and threadingly rotated relative tothe container neck 26. The upwardly bent tamper-evident ring 100 passesover the container neck thread 29 and over the container neck retentionflange 104. The upwardly bent portion of the tamper-evident ring 100snaps inwardly below the container neck retention flange 104 as shown inFIG. 3. This resists removal of the closure body 30 if a user attemptsto rotate the closure body 30 in an unscrewing direction. However, thetamper-evident band or ring 100, in the preferred form, is connected tothe bottom end of the closure body skirt 90 by a very thin portion orportions of material (which may have, for example, circumferentiallyspaced-apart notches or a scored groove or a molded groove (not shown)).If the user attempts to unscrew the closure body 30 with a sufficientamount of torque, then the interconnecting, thin portion of materialwill break, and the tamper-evident band 100 will separate from thebottom of the closure body skirt 90. This will serve as an indicationthat the closure body 30 has been unscrewed, at least partially, fromthe fully assembled configuration.

The use of a tamper-evident ring or band 100 is an entirely optionalfeature of the illustrated embodiment, and it does not form a necessarypart of the present invention. Indeed, if the closure body 30 isnon-releasably attached to the container neck 26 (as with adhesive,thermal bonding, irreversible snap-fit configurations, etc.), then thetamper-evident ring 100 would provide no additional benefit. Similarly,a tamper-evident ring 100 would provide no additional benefit if theclosure body 30 is formed as a unitary molded extension of the containerneck 26.

As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the lid 40 includes a top wall 122 and askirt 124. The front of the lid 40 has an indentation or recess 126 inthe skirt 124. A thumb lift tab 128 projects outwardly from the topportion of the lid 40 over the recess 126. As can be seen in FIG. 9, theskirt 124 has a flat wall section 125 at the rear of the lid 40.Projecting outwardly from the flat wall section 125 is a pair ofrearwardly extending lugs 130. A shaft 132 extends between, andconnects, the lugs 130 at a location where the shaft 132 is spaced fromthe lid skirt flat wall section 125. The shaft 132 has a centrallylocated, outwardly projecting ridge or bead 133.

With reference to FIG. 4, the lid shaft 132 is received within theupwardly open channel 82 defined at the rear of the closure body 30. Theshaft 132 has a width dimension or diameter that is greater than theopening 84 between the upper, distal ends of the walls 80 which definethe sides of the channel 82. This provides a snap-fit engagement andretains the lid shaft 132 on a fixed axis relative to the closure body30 so as to accommodate pivoting movement of the lid 40 relative to theclosure body 30 between the full closed position (FIG. 1) and the fullopen position (FIG. 2). The shaft ridge or bead 133 (FIG. 4) is receivedin the groove 86 (FIGS. 4 and 6) at the bottom of the channel 82 whenthe lid 40 is fully opened (FIG. 2) to provide a detent engagement thatincreases the resistance to rotation of the lid 40 away from the openposition. This helps keep the lid 40 open at about 80°, and helpsprevent the open lid 40 from flopping around.

As can be seen in FIG. 12, the lid 40 optionally may include, andpreferably includes, a plug or spud 140 projecting downwardly from theunderside of the lid top wall 122. An annular sealing member 142projects from the underside of the lid 40 around the spud 140. Themember 142 has a radially inwardly projecting sealing bead 144. As shownin FIG. 4, the spud 140 is adapted to be received within the dispensingorifice 44 of the spout 42. In the preferred embodiment illustrated inFIGS. 4, the dispensing orifice 44 is a substantially cylindricalorifice, and the exterior of the lid plug or spud 140 has a generallycylindrical surface. The diameter of the exterior surface of the lidspud 140 is slightly greater than the internal diameter of the bodydispensing orifice 44. This provides an interference fit to effect goodsealing engagement. Either the spud 140 or the spout 42, or both, havesufficient flexibility to accommodate such an interference fit providingleak-tight sealing capability. The lid sealing member 142 and its bead144 are optional features that may be included so that the bead cansealingly engage the upper, exterior surface of the spout 42. The spud140 is also an optional feature. The closure 20 could alternatively beprovided with just the spud 140 alone, or the lid member 142 alone, orboth the spud 140 and lid member 142 (as in the illustrated, preferredembodiment).

According to the present invention, a unique tamper-evident feature isprovided for indicating that the lid 40 has been initially moved awayfrom the fully closed configuration (FIG. 1) toward the fully openedposition (FIG. 2). The tamper-evident feature involves cooperationbetween the lid 40 and closure body 30. As shown in FIGS. 1, 3, 7, and9, the tamper-evident feature includes at least one anchor member 152which is initially connected to the lid 40 with one or more frangiblemembers or webs 160. The combination of the lid 40, webs 160, and anchormembers 152 may be characterized as a top structure for being initiallymounted on, and attached to, the closure body 30.

In the preferred embodiment, there are two anchor members 152--oneprovided on each side of the lid 40 along the bottom edge of the lid 40,but spaced a distance Y (FIGS. 14-16) below the lid skirt bottom edge.In the preferred embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9, there are aplurality of frangible webs 160 in the form of spaced-apart bridgesextending between each anchor member 152 and the lid skirt 124.

In the illustrated preferred embodiment, each anchor member 152 includesa generally vertically inner surface 153 (FIGS. 12,.13, 15, 16, and 17)that faces radially inwardly and that is connected to the lower portionof each frangible web 160. The webs 160 are initially moldedsimultaneously with, and as part of the unitary top structure thatincludes, the lid 40 and anchor members 152. Each anchor member 152 is agenerally arcuate bar. In other contemplated embodiments (notillustrated), each anchor member need not be an arcuate bar. Each anchormember 152 includes an attaching portion 162 (FIGS. 13, 14, and 16)which, in the illustrated preferred embodiment, is defined by theunderside or bottom surface of the member 152. Preferably, the attachingportion 162 is initially molded as the bottom surface of the anchormember 152 and also includes a downwardly projecting protrusion orprotuberance 164 that has a triangular transverse cross section forfacilitating the thermoplastic welding attachment of the anchor member152 to the closure body attachment surface 54 as described in detailhereinafter.

In the presently contemplated preferred form of the invention, themanufacturer can readily mold the lid 40, webs 160, and anchor members152 (with the protuberances 164) together as a single, unitary component(i.e., the top structure), and the manufacturer can separately mold theclosure body 30 as another, separate component. The top structure andbody 30 may be molded from the same thermoplastic material or fromdifferent thermoplastic materials. The lid 40, webs 160, anchor members152, and body 30 may have the same color and texture or may havedifferent colors and/or textures.

After separately molding the closure body 30 and the top structure(i.e., the lid 40, webs 160, and anchor members 152 with protuberances164), the two components are assembled by mounting the lid 40 on theclosure body 30 so that the lid hinge shaft 132 is received in asnap-fit engagement within the closure body receiving channel 82. Thelid 40 is initially closed on the closure body 30 as shown in FIG. 5. Inthe initially closed position of the lid 40, each anchor member 152 isdisposed above the closure body lower deck 54 which defines the upwardlyfacing attachment surface. The lower, pointed edge of the anchor memberattaching portion protuberance 164 rests on the closure body attachmentsurface (i.e., the upwardly facing surface of the closure body lowerdeck 54). The closure manufacturer can then weld the anchor members 152to the deck 54.

A presently preferred method for welding the anchor members 152 to theclosure body lower deck 54 employs thermoplastic welding, and preferablythermoplastic welding as effected with ultrasonic energy. The triangularcross section protuberance 164 on the attachment portion 162 at thebottom of each anchor member 152 functions as an energy director for theultrasonic energy. The ultrasonic energy can be applied with commercialultrasonic welding equipment which may be of any suitable conventionalor special design. Such ultrasonic welding equipment typically includesa suitable horn or engaging member for engaging the outwardly facing,exterior portions of the anchor members 152 and for applying a forceagainst the anchor members 152 in a direction tending to urge the anchormembers 152 downwardly toward the closure body lower deck attachmentsurface 54 at the same time that the ultrasonic equipment transfersultrasonic energy into and through the anchor members 152. The equipmentoperating energy, time, force, etc. depend, of course, on the size andmass of the closure top structure components that are to be welded aswell as upon the type of thermoplastic material. The detailed design andoperation of such ultrasonic welding equipment forms no part of thepresent invention.

In one presently preferred embodiment, the ultrasonic welding of theanchor members 152 to the closure body lower deck 54 is facilitated byproviding the deck 54 with a textured surface. One such suitabletextured surface can be provided by conventional etching of the relevantregion of the mold steel through a conventional texture mask or plaque.In a preferred embodiment of the closure molded from polypropylene, thesurface of the mold at the attachment surface 54 is AISI (American Ironand Steel Institute) type 420 stainless steel with a hardness of 54-64Rockwell c that has been (1) ferric chloride acid attached to a depth of0.052 mm. through a plaque or mask designated MT 11050 as sold by MoldTech (having an office at 279 East Lies Road, Carol Stream, Ill. 60188,U.S.A.), and (2) bead blasted to remove ash residue.

During the welding of the anchor members 152 to the closure body deck54, the energy director protuberances 164 (which may have a projectionof about 0.55 mm. in a presently preferred embodiment) become softenedand/or melted along with adjacent portions of the closure body deck 54.The softened or melted protuberances 164 and the softened or meltedportions of the closure body deck 54, along with any softened or meltedportions of the anchor member 152 adjacent the protuberances 164) fuseand re-solidify after termination of the application of the ultrasonicenergy and force. This effects a welding of the thermoplastic material(as schematically designated by reference number 168 in FIG. 3).

In the preferred embodiment, the energy deflector protuberances 164project downwardly about 0.55 mm. After being ultrasonically welded, themelted and fused protuberances 164 loose substantially all of theiroriginal height and shape so that the 0.55 mm. gap initially defined bythe protuberances 164 is substantially eliminated and reduced toapproximately 0 mm.

The assembled, closed, and welded closure 20 may then be shipped to anentity that fills bottles or other containers with a fluent product andthen installs the closures 20 on the filled containers.

With reference to FIGS. 15-16, it can be seen that the frangible webs160 extend downwardly for a distance Y below the bottom edge of theclosure lid skirt 124 where the webs 160 adjoin the inner top edge ofthe anchor member 152. The frangible web 160 spans the gap Y between thetop of the anchor member 152 and the bottom edge of the closure lidskirt 124.

As best seen in FIG. 16, the radially inwardly facing vertical side 153of each anchor member 152 includes a vertical rib 170 which is a molded,unitary extension or part of the anchor member 152 and which, in effect,merges with, and forms an extension from, the frangible web 160. As canbe seen in FIG. 14, the bottom portion of the closure lid skirt 124 hasan external rib 174 which is molded unitary with, and extends from, theexterior surface of the closure lid skirt 124 so as to merge with theupper end of the frangible web 160. As can be seen in FIG. 16, withinthe vertical gap or space Y, the web 160 includes an enlarged or widerportion 178 and a reduced width, or narrower, portion 180. In apresently preferred embodiment of a polypropylene closure, the reducedwidth portion 180 has a width of about 0.69 mm., a height above themember 152 of about 0.25 mm., and a thickness of about 0.25 mm.

When the user wishes to open the closure, the user applies a generallyupwardly directed force to the closure lid thumb lift 128 (FIGS. 1 and14). The application of a sufficiently large force will case thefrangible webs 160 to break or rupture as illustrated in FIG. 17. Thefrangible webs 160 break in the reduced width region 180. Typically, thereduced width portion 180 of the frangible web 160 will have some slightreduction in width (from W1 to W2 in FIG. 17) as the tensile stressalong the length or height of the frangible web 160 causes someelongation prior to rupture.

As shown in FIG. 17, when the frangible webs 160 rupture, a short lengthL, of the reduced width section 180 typically will remain with the widerportion 178 on the lid skirt 124, and a short length L₂ of the reducedwidth portion 180 typically will remain with the anchor member 152. In apresently preferred embodiment, after a frangible web 160 breaks, theheight L₂ of the portion of the broken web projecting upwardly from theanchor member 152 is about 0.2 mm., or less. Thus, the projection L₂ ofthe reduced width frangible web portion 180 on the anchor member 152 isrelatively small. If the opened closure is used to dispense a fluid fordrinking, the user may place the user's lips around the closure bodyspout 42 (FIG. 2) and against the surrounding deck portions of theclosure body 30 without sensing any objectionable roughness from thebroken frangible portions 180 on the closure body 30 because suchportions are so small and short.

Before the lid 40 is lifted for the first time to break the frangiblewebs 160, the frangible webs 160 provide an indication that the lid 40has not yet been opened. The user can readily see that the frangible web160 are not ruptured because the frangible webs 160 span a relativelylarge gap having the height Y as shown in FIGS. 14-16. The gap Y betweenthe bottom edge of the lid skirt 124 and the top of the anchor member152 provides a good background, field of view, or visual environment inwhich to readily ascertain that the frangible webs 160 are not broken(or are broken).

Further, the tamper-evident feature of the closure 20 can be enhanced bymolding the lid 40, frangible webs 160, and anchor members 152 from asuitable thermoplastic material that changes color after being subjectedto a sufficient level of stress. In a preferred embodiment,polypropylene is used for molding the components, and during subsequentrupture of the frangible webs 160, the frangible webs 160 are subjectedto sufficient stress to cause “stress whitening” in the region of thebreak. Thus, if the polypropylene that is used to mold the lid 40,frangible webs 160, and anchor members 152 is tinted or colored so thatit initially has a non-white hue, then there will be a lightening orwhitening of the color of the material at, and adjacent, the brokensurfaces of the frangible webs. This will further aid the user inascertaining that the webs 160 have been broken.

According to one aspect of the invention, the use of the relatively longfrangible webs 160 to span the gap Y provides an enhanced tamper-evidentfeature regardless of how each anchor member 152 is affixed or connectedto the underlying closure body deck 54. Thus, it is not necessary,according to an optional form of the invention, to secure the anchormembers 152 to the closure body deck 54 with a thermoplastic weld.Instead, other connection means could be employed, such as, for example,a mechanical interference fit, staking, gluing, etc. If the anchormembers 152 are attached to the closure body deck 54 by means other thanwelding, then the closure components may be made from materials otherthan weldable thermoplastic materials.

If desired, the frangible webs 160 could be configured to haveorientations other than the generally vertical orientation illustratedin FIG. 16. For example, the radially inner sides 153 of the anchormembers 152 could be located further radially outwardly (e.g., beyondthe circumference of the closure lid 40), and the frangible webs 160could be inclined or angled radially outwardly at a substantial angle.Further, with reference to FIG. 15, each frangible web 160 could beangled to the left or to the right instead of being located generallyvertical as shown in FIG. 15.

In yet another contemplated embodiment, the frangible webs 160 could bebi-injection-molded onto the lid 40 and anchor members 152 after the lid40 and anchor members 152 are initially molded. That would permit thewebs 160 to be molded from a different material having a different colorand/or texture. This would make the frangible webs 160 even more visibleto the user.

The structure of the tamper-evident webs 160, in relation to the closurelid 40 and anchor members 152, accommodates ease of molding of the lid40, webs 160, and anchor members 152, and such molding does not requireside action molding components or lifters. Further, the closure 20functions well with various types of hinge structures, or with no hinge.Additionally, no separate shrink band is required to provide thetamper-evident function that is performed by the frangible webs 160.Opening the lid 40 of the closure 20 does not require the user to breakand remove a separate, discardable piece (e.g., shrink band). Thetamper-evident function provided by the frangible webs 160 eliminatesthe need to provide other types of tamper-evident features that may bemore expensive or more difficult to use.

Furthermore, the tamper-evident structure provided by the frangible webs160 (in conjunction with the anchor members 152 and the securement ofthe anchor members 152 to the closure body 30) accommodates the designof a closure which has high retention strength and which is verysecure—especially when the design employs a weld of the anchor members152 to the closure body 30.

The closure 20 need not be made in two or more separate parts. Forexample, if desired, the entire closure 20 could be molded as a single,unitary structure with an integral hinge system such as a snap-actionhinge, tether hinge, or the like. The detailed design of such a hingesystem forms no part of the present invention. Indeed, the presentinvention contemplates that the lid 40 and closure body 30 could beprovided as separate components without any hinge structure so that thelid would not remain attached to the closure body after the assembly isopened.

When the closure 20 is in the full open condition as shown in FIG. 2,the user can tip or invert the package to facilitate the dispensing offluent product under the influence of gravity. If the container 22 has aflexible wall or walls, the container 22 can be squeezed to furtherassist in dispensing the product. After the desired amount of producthas been dispensed, the package can be turned back to its uprightorientation, and the user can close the lid 40. If the package isdesigned for “inverted” storage (such as if the closure includes aflexible, pressure-actuatable, self-sealing dispensing valve), thepackage may be left inverted at all times.

It will also be appreciated that the closure system of the presentinvention need not be provided as a separate closure for a container.The closure body 30 could instead be molded as a unitary part of thecontainer 22. A container could be molded to have (1) an initially openbottom end, (2) a peripheral wall forming an upper end that defines acontainer top end opening, and (3) a unitary closure body portionextending radially inwardly from the container peripheral wall over thecontainer top end opening so as to form a unitary part of the containertop end and so as to define a unitary, top end closure body, includingthe spout 42 (and optionally including a hinge and lid, if the body,hinge, and lid are to be part of a single, unitary structure). Then, thecontainer could be filled with product through the open bottom end, andthe open bottom end could be subsequently sealed closed by appropriatemeans, such as with thermally assisted deformation or with a separatebottom closure plug or bottom cap.

It will also be appreciated that the closure system of the presentinvention may include other components, elements, or features. Forexample, the closure body 30 (FIG. 3) could include an internal valvesystem. The valve could be, for example, a pressure-actuated, flexible,resilient slit valve. Such a valve has the configuration and operatingcharacteristics of a commercially available valve design substantiallyas disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,676,289 with reference to the valve46 disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 5,676,289. The operation of such atype of valve is further described with reference to the similar valvethat is designated by reference number 3d in the U.S. Pat. No.5,409,144. The descriptions of those patents are incorporated herein byreference thereto to the extent pertinent and to the extent notinconsistent herewith. The embodiment of the present invention shown inFIG. 7 herein could accommodate such a valve within the closure bodyspout 42 under the dispensing orifice 44 and within, or in place of, thebaffle structure 45. Such a valve could be held in place with a suitableretainer ring in snap-fit engagement with the closure body.Alternatively, such a valve could be secured with other means, such asbi-injection molding, insert molding, adhesive securement, crimping,swagging, or the like.

It will be readily apparent from the foregoing detailed description ofthe invention and from the illustrations thereof that numerousvariations and modifications may be effected without departing from thetrue spirit and scope of the novel concepts or principles of thisinvention.

1. A tamper-evident closure system for a container that has an openingto the container interior, said closure system comprising: a body thatis either a separate structure for attaching to, and extending from,said container at said opening or is a unitary extension of saidcontainer at said opening, said body having (1) at least one orifice forcommunicating with said container opening, and (2) a thermoplasticattachment surface; a lid adapted to be disposed on said body foraccommodating lifting of said lid relative to said at least one orificebetween (1) a closed position over said at least one orifice, and (2) anopen position away from said at least one orifice; an anchor memberhaving a thermoplastic attaching portion for being welded to said bodyattachment surface when said lid is first in said closed position; andat least one frangible web extending between said lid and said anchormember for initially connecting said anchor member with said lid forsubsequently being broken when said lid is first lifted from said closedposition.
 2. The closure system in accordance with claim 1 furtherincluding a welded connection between said attachment surface of saidbody and said attaching portion of said anchor member.
 3. The closuresystem in accordance with claim 1 in which there are two anchor memberseach having an attachment portion that includes an energy directorhaving a triangular cross section for facilitating ultrasonic welding ofthe anchor member to said body attachment surface.
 4. The closure systemin accordance with claim 1 in which a portion of said lid has a skirtwith a generally cylindrical exterior surface; and each of saidfrangible webs has an upper portion molded as a unitary extension fromsaid exterior surface of said lid skirt.
 5. The closure system inaccordance with claim 1 in which each said frangible web has an upperwide portion and a lower narrow portion.
 6. The closure system inaccordance with claim 1 in which a portion of each said anchor memberdefines a radially inwardly facing surface; each said frangible web hasa lower portion molded as a unitary extension from said anchor memberinwardly facing surface.
 7. The closure system in accordance with claim1 in which said closure system is a closure for an end of said containerwherein the container end defines said container opening; and saidclosure includes said body, said lid, said anchor member, and said atleast one frangible member.
 8. The closure system in accordance withclaim 7 in which said closure is an article that is separate from saidcontainer; and said body is attachable to said container end over saidcontainer opening.
 9. The closure system in accordance with claim 1 inwhich said lid, said anchor member, and said at least one frangiblemember are molded together from a thermoplastic material to form aunitary structure that is initially separate from said closure body. 10.A tamper-evident closure system for a container that has an opening tothe container interior, said closure system comprising: a body that iseither a separate structure for attaching to, and extending from, saidcontainer at said opening or is a unitary extension of said container atsaid opening, said body having at least one orifice for communicatingwith said container opening, and a a lid adapted to be disposed on saidbody for accommodating lifting of said lid relative to said at least oneorifice between (1) a closed position over said at least one orifice,and (2) an open position away from said at least one orifice, said lidhaving a lower edge; an anchor member non-removably fixed to said bodywhen said lid is first in said closed position to define a vertical gapbetween said anchor member and said lid lower edge; and at least onefrangible web extending across said gap between said lid lower edge andsaid anchor member for initially connecting said anchor member with saidlid for subsequently being broken when said lid is first lifted fromsaid closed position.
 11. The closure system in accordance with claim 10in which a portion of said lid has a skirt with a generally cylindricalexterior surface; and each said frangible web has an upper portionmolded as a unitary extension from said exterior surface of said lidskirt.
 12. The closure system in accordance with claim 10 in which eachsaid frangible web has an upper wide portion and a lower narrow portion;and the height of said vertical gap between said anchor member and saidlid lower edge is greater than the width of said frangible web upperwide portion.
 13. The closure system in accordance with claim 10 inwhich a portion of each said anchor member defines a radially inwardlyfacing surface; and each said frangible web has a lower portion moldedas a unitary extension from said anchor member inwardly facing surface.14. The closure system in accordance with claim 10 in which said closuresystem is a closure for an end of said container wherein the containerend defines said container opening; and said closure includes said body,said lid, said anchor member, and said at least one frangible member.15. The closure system in accordance with claim 14 in which said closureis an article that is separate from said container; and said body isattachable to said container end over said container opening.
 16. Theclosure system in accordance with claim 10 in which said lid, saidanchor member, and said at least one frangible member are moldedtogether from a thermoplastic material to form a unitary structure thatis initially separate from said closure body.
 17. A method for making atamper-evident closure system for a container that has an opening to thecontainer interior, said method comprising the steps of: (A) moldingfrom thermoplastic material a body that (1) is either a separatestructure for attaching to, and extending from, said container at saidopening or is a unitary extension of said container at said opening, (2)has at least one orifice for communicating with said container opening,and (3) has a thermoplastic attachment surface; (B) molding fromthermoplastic material a top structure comprising (1) a lid, (2) ananchor member that has an attaching portion, and (3) at least onefrangible web that extends between, and is unitary with, said lid andsaid anchor member wherein said lid is adapted to be disposed on saidbody for accommodating lifting of said lid relative to said at least oneorifice between (i) a closed position over said at least one orifice,and (ii) an open position away from said at least one orifice; (C)mounting said top structure on said body with said lid disposed on saidbody in said closed position and with said anchor member attachingportion located adjacent said body thermoplastic attachment surface; and(D) welding said anchor member attaching portion to said bodythermoplastic attachment surface when said lid is first in said closedposition to initially connect said anchor member with said lid so thatsaid at least one frangible web can be subsequently broken when said lidis first lifted from said closed position.
 18. The method in accordancewith claim 17 in which step (B) includes molding said top structure tohave said anchor member that has an attaching portion that includes anenergy director having a triangular cross section for facilitatingultrasonic welding of the anchor member to said body attachment surface;and step (D) includes utrasonically welding said anchor member to saidbody attachment surface.
 19. The method in accordance with claim 17 inwhich step (B) includes molding a portion of said lid to have a skirtwith a generally cylindrical exterior surface and a lower edge; step (B)includes molding said anchor member to have an inwardly facing surface;and step (B) includes molding each of said frangible webs to (1) have anupper portion molded as a unitary extension from said exterior surfaceof said lid skirt, (2) have a narrower lower portion molded as a unitaryextension from said anchor member inwardly facing surface, and (3) havea length sufficient to create a vertical gap between said anchor memberand said skirt lower edge wherein the height of said gap is greater thanthe width of said web upper portion.